
Page 8 of 107
Written and Compiled by J.H. Holly, Mkomachi CDSS
Advantages of Satellite Images
Large amount of data is collected
within a short time.
Information collected does not
recognize international boundaries
hence there are no delays in collecting
data.
The data can be taken from areas where
it is difficult to reach e.g. deep seas
Promote human security as it is used by
the army.
Forms a basis for research.
Disadvantages of Satellite Images
Since are taken from space, they are
disturbed by weather changes such as
clouds.
There are low quality pictures since they
are taken from very far from the ground.
Applications of Aerial Photographs and
Satellite Images
Used by cartographers to make maps.
In archaeology, these are used for
locating minerals under the ground.
Town planners use them in urban studies
to develop and locate infrastructure,
roads and new facilities.
In climate, these are used for detecting
climatic hazards such as droughts, floods
Uses of GIS and remote sensing
1. They are used in environmental impact
assessment
2. They are used by the law enforcement
agencies to identify crime hotspots.
3. They are used in the military operations
for attacking and defensive purposes.
4. They are used for disaster management
purposes.
5. They help in making good natural
resource management plans and policies
that control the use of natural resources.
6. They help in urban planning by
providing.
7. They provide information about farming
areas, insect pests, crop diseases, fire,
flooding and environmental issues.
8. They help doctors to identify the disease
outbreaks and the causes.
9. They are used for water, road and air
transport control
10. They are used in business management
to promote the marketing functions like
advertisements.
11. They are used to monitor weather
phenomenon.
Other technologies related to GIS
a. Desktop Mapping
It is computer software that supports the
creation of thematic maps of diverse
application.
b. Database Management System
(DBMS)
It is a computer program designed to
large set of structured data and run
operations on the data requested by
numerous users.
c. Remote sensing
It is art and science of making
measurement of the Earth using sensors
which collect data.
d. Global Positioning System (GPS)
It is a worldwide global navigation
system that provides information from
the orbiting satellites. GPS is used to
detect position, speed of moving objects
and depth of places among others.
Google Earth
Relationships among phenomena by
analyzing geographical information